told him maybe we could talk this weekend, but I don’t want to make things awkward.”
Liv snorted. “For who?”
Alexis motioned to all her friends. “You guys. Everyone else. This weekend is supposed to be about you and Mack, not Noah and me.”
Liv pointed. “Stop. That’s ridiculous. We’re your friends.”
“But this is your bachelorette weekend. I don’t want to ruin it.”
“The only thing that could ruin this weekend is if you weren’t there.”
“Trust me. The thought crossed my mind.”
Liv pursed her lips, as if a decision had been made. “Well, here’s a better thought. You’re going to use this weekend to your advantage. And we’re going to help you.”
Alexis gulped. “I’ve seen that look on your face before, Liv, and it’s terrifying.”
“Just leave it to us,” Liv said. “By the end of this weekend, you and Noah will be naked.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
By Friday, Noah felt like the dirty floor of a public bathroom.
He’d known it would be torture to go a week without talking to Alexis, but he hadn’t been prepared for the crushing loneliness of it. Waking up without texting her. Going to bed without calling to say good night. For someone who apparently hadn’t been in a relationship, he sure as shit felt like he’d been dumped.
And worse than all of it was the memory of kissing her. Of holding her in his arms, finally. Of feeling her hands on him, hearing her little gasps and moans. His dreams had been downright pornographic all week, and that made him feel even more like shit, like a betrayal or something.
He couldn’t sleep at all Thursday night in anticipation of finally seeing her again, so even though their plane to Memphis wasn’t supposed to take off until ten o’clock Friday morning, he headed to the airport early. Just in case he could get Alexis alone.
Noah followed the signs to the area where private planes and chartered flights checked in. Colton had arranged for them to use some private jet for the weekend, and the lefty radical part of him cringed at the carbon footprint this one-night getaway was leaving on the Earth. Memphis was a three-hour drive, tops. They didn’t need a damn plane.
He wished he and Alexis were driving together. It would give them time to talk, because there wouldn’t be much time today and tomorrow. The plan was for the guys to head straight from the airport to a day spa for massages while Liv and her bridesmaids got pedicures. The entire group would then meet back up for dinner and barhopping at night.
Noah parked in the private lot outside the hangar where they were supposed to meet and swallowed away the disappointment when he didn’t see Lexa’s car. His disappointment soared when he realized the Russian was already there too.
Noah found him standing alone next to a massive suitcase and an inflatable inner tube. He was laughing at something on his phone. He held it out for Noah to see as he approached. “Raccoon eating grapes.”
Noah nodded at the inner tube. “What’s up with that?”
“They have pool at hotel. I cannot swim.” He cracked up and turned his phone around again. “Raccoon eating banana.”
“What the hell are you bringing?” Noah grumbled with a nod at the suitcase.
“I have special diet needs.”
“That’s all food?”
The Russian held out his arms. “You are having a bad day. Do you need a hug?”
“I’m good, thanks—mrph.” He was suddenly smoochy faced against the Russian’s massive chest. A beefy hand pounded him on the back and nearly knocked his ribs out of place.
“Yes, you need a hug.”
“Can I interrupt or is this, like, a special moment?” Colton had snuck up on them, his voice laced with amusement.
Noah backed up, and Colton let out a shocked noise. “Holy shit, you look horrible.”
The Russian pounded his back again. “He is having bad day.”
He was saved from answering when the Russian turned his phone around again. “Raccoon eating marshmallow.”
Colton tugged Noah away several feet and lowered his voice. “Since you’re rooming with him, see if you can find out anything.”
“About what—wait. I’m rooming with the Russian?”
“Yeah, didn’t you know?”
“No, I didn’t fucking know. Who decided that?”
Colton shrugged. “Mack, I guess. Nearly everyone else is bringing a wife or girlfriend, and I’m rooming with Mack’s brother. So that leaves you and the Russian.”
“Why can’t I room with Liam?” His voice took on the quality of a whiny teenager.
“Because you have investigative skills.” Colton nodded back toward the Russian’s massive suitcase and lowered his voice. “Snoop through his luggage and